Contemporary Seasons

Contemporary Seasons - Page Text Content

S: Seasons of Change

FC: of change | RUSSIA | Project

1: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1917-1991 | Modern Day Russia 1991-Present

2: GEOGRAPHY

3: Northern Russian extends into the Arctic Circle. This area is primarily tundra and forests, with thousands of lakes. Russia has many mountain areas. The Ural mountains cover 2,200 miles of eastern Russia. The Caucasus mountains cross the southern part of Russia, from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. From the western boarder to the Ural mountains is the North European Plain. This is a large rolling plain with rich soil and grasslands. Russia's large geographical territory gives it a very diverse climate. Its northern coastline borders on the Arctic Ocean, which gives it severe winters. In the south, Russia has hot desert areas.

5: NATURAL RESOURCES | Oil has always been the principle commodity in which the former USSR, as well as modern day Russia produce. Today oil sales to Iran and China continue to provide Russia the capital it requires to reestablish itself as a major world superpower. Natural gas is quickly becoming a major economic windfall in Russia.It currently possesses the largest reserves in the world. Coal, timber, and iron ore also provide Russia with the money and resources to create jobs and strengthen its infrastructure.

6: ECONOMIC INFLUENCES

7: Today Russia has become a trade surplus rich nation. Sales of oil and Natural gas as well as military and nuclear weapons and services to China and Iran have caused economic and strategic influences on many nations. The United States and Russia Continue to have strained relations in respect to this.

9: Environmental Contributions | Russia has for generations had a negative impact on its lands and people. Chernobyl is still to this day a wasteland. The transformation to a market economy seems to have had little effect on the military industrial complex and the attitude of power before people.

10: During and after wwII, many Russian Jews escaped persecution from Nazi Germany and immigrated to Brighton Beach NY. If you made the journey you likely had paid Germany up to 90% of your life savings. History tells the horrors of those who were poor. | Darya

11: BRIGHTON BEACH NY

12: COMMUNICATION

14: Perceptions Of Time

15: There are many similarities in the way Russians and Americans observe time.

16: Russian's perceptions of space include many of the same influences all developed countries share. Being one of the largest countries in the world, it is common to see cities and neighborhoods that have adopted the traditions, cultures, foods, and living preferences of those that have migrated there. | PERCEPTIONS OF SPACE

18: Religions of Russia | 90-95% of religious Russians practice Christianity and belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. However the vast majority of Orthodox believers do not attend church on a regular basis.

19: 4-6% are reported as Muslims 1% reported to be Protestant <1% reported to be Catholic 0.01% reported to be Jewish. 4% reported as non believers

20: FAMILY

21: Russians cherish their families and are always ready to help their relatives in difficult times. The tradition that everyone should love their own home and protect their family is instilled into Russians since the early childhood.

22: Health and Wellness

24: AGING, DYING and GRIEVING

26: SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS OF INFLUENCE

27: In the 1990s, independent individuals and groups have begun establishing professional, research, educational, and cultural organizations. This activity has included a substantial upswing in the number of voluntary charitable and philanthropic organizations. In 1995 about 5,000 nonprofit organizations and 550 formal charities were operating in Russia. In Moscow more than 10,000 volunteers worked for these organizations in 1996.